Publishing Bill 10 In Gazette ‘Breach Of Process’ - LAZ

The Law Association of Zambia has criticised the government’s decision to republish Constitutional Amendment Bill No.10 in the Government Gazette, calling the move a breach of process 

The LAZ’s President Eddie Mwitwa said in a statement that the published document included new amendments that had not been part of the bill introduced at first reading in the National Assembly by the government.

Mr Mwitwa accused the government of trying to sway public opinion by publishing the bill, with no guarantee of enacting the changes included in the Gazette. He said there was no procedure with allows a government to publish different texts of a bill in the gazette to that which is already proceeding through parliament.

Bill 10 was originally published in the Gazette Notice No.660 on Friday 21st June 2019. However it was then republished last week with a number of proposed amendments that differ from the original bill. 

Mr Mwitwa has said the government cannot cherry pick what it considers to be desirable committee proposals, reject numerous others and publish the results claiming to be the bill.